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Improving data on international migration

John Salt at User Forum

Professor John Salt, Chair of the UK Migration Statistics User Forum (MSUF), was at its annual conference at the Home Office on September 21st.

The morning sessions reviewed the latest information and data developments from the main UK sources of international migration statistics, including the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics. A pioneering paper also examined how various sources may be integrated, including National Insurance statistics, and HM Revenue and Customs and Office of National Statistics data.

The afternoon included four papers on:

i) The impact of migration on UK population characteristics.

ii) The latest UK local authority statistics on asylum and resettled persons.

iv) The relationship between international migrant flows and housing occupation in London.

John chaired the afternoon session and the expert panel which concluded the day’s events. Overall, the conference demonstrated the wide range of statistics now available and published on international migration, although emigration data continue to be a major weakness.

The presentations are available through the MSUF JISC-mail list, and the Royal Statistical Society to which the MSUF is affiliated (see below).